Below is a list of some of the commonly used terminology that applies to goats. This list is by no means complete. If you feel there is a term that will be useful to add to this list, please let us know so that we may add it! Please contact gary@goatworld.com with the information you feel would be appropriate for this page.

Abomasum

The fourth or true digestive part of a ruminant's stomach that contains gastric juices and enzymes that begin the breakdown of complex materials.

Abortifacients

A drug or other agent used to cause abortion. Other agents could be considered as toxins or poisons from plants, trees, etc.

Abortion

Expulsion of the fetus (or fetuses) by a pregnant female before the normal end of a pregnancy.

Acidosis

A condition when the rumen becomes too acid. Usually due to over-consumption of grain.

ADF

Acid Detergent Fiber; an indicator of relative digestibility of forages.

Aflatoxin

Toxin produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus.

Afterbirth

The fetal membranes that attach the fetus to the membranes of the pregnant female and which are normally expelled from the female within 3 to 6 h. after parturition.

AI (Artificial Insemination)

The technique that involves breeding of females without the males being physically present.

Ante-mortem

Before death.

Anthelmintic

A compound that kills or expels internal parasites - such as worms.

Antibiotic

Chemical compounds from living cells, that inhibit growth or kill microorganisms.

Artificial Rearing

Raising a kid on milk or milk replacer.

Atrophy

Wasting away or decreasing in size of cells, organs or entire body; due to disuse, disease or severe malnutrition.

Banding

This involves the use of castration rings (bands) to remove the testacles.

Caseous Lymphadenitis, an abscess disease of goats that is highly contagious.

Cloning

The production of genes or individuals which are genetically the same as the donor.

Clostridial Organisms

Anaerobic bacteria that produce spores under certain conditions.

Cocci

An oxycyt that destroys the lining of the small intestine causing diarrhea and death; (also known as coccidiosis)

Coccidiosis

An oxycyt that destroys the lining of the small intestine causing diarrhea and death; (also known as cocci)

Colostrum

The first milk full of antibodies for the kids, essential to their life.

Corpus luteum

A ductless gland developed within the ovary by the reorganization of a Graafian follicle following ovulation. Also known as an extract of this gland of the hog or cow, the chief principle of which is progesterone. plural = corpora lutea.

Corticosteroids

Any of a class of steroids, as aldosterone, hydrocortisone, or cortisone, occuring in nature as a product of the adrenal cortex, or synthesized. Also called corticoid.

Creep

An enclosure into which young (small) animals may enter but larger animals cannot. Any feeders in this area or in farrowing crates or parturition pen that are only accessible to the young are called creep feeders.

Critical Temperature

Maximum or minimum environmental temperature tolerated by the animal before additional dietary energy is required to maintain normal body temperature.

Crossbred

The offspring resulting from mating a buck and doe of different breeds.

Crossbreeding

Mating plan involving two or more breeds.

Cryptosporidiosis

An organism that proliferates in the small intestine.

Culling

The process of removing animals that are below average in production, unsound or undesirable.

Culls

Goats which are below a required standard.

Custom Feeding

The practice of having livestock fed and managed for the livestock owner in another facility for a fee.

Cut

To castrate.

Cysticercosis

The condition where a larval form of a tapeworm has encysted or embedded itself in the tissue of its host.

Dehydrate

The loss of body fluids by fever, virus or heat.

Disbudding

The practice of removing the horns on a goat.

Doe

Female goat.

Doeling

Baby female goat.

Drenching

The oral administration of medication.

Drylot

A penned area for holding the herd for an extended period with or without housing.

Dry Matter

(DM) The portion of feed that is not water.

Elastrator

Instrument used to apply heavy rubber bands (elastrator rings/bands) to tail and scrotum for docking and castration. Some breeders also used this method for disbudding.

Embryo Transfer

Recently fertilized eggs from donor doe are transferred to the uterus of a recipient doe, usually by surgically exposing the uterus of the recipient.

Emaciation

To waste away physically.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain usually with severe signs such as fever, incoordination, and convulsions.

Enteritis

An inflammation of the intestinal tract.

Enterotoxemia

Actually misnamed "overeaters", it is a toxin in all healthy goats, that multiplies with a stressor to cause stomach cramps and death.

Enterotoxemia Type C

Disease that affects goats in the first two weeks of life causing bloody infection of the small intestine and rapid death.

Enterotoxemia Type C and D Toxoid

Vaccination given to young goats to build up antibodies against Enterotoxemia type C and D. It is also available combined with tetanus vaccination.

Enterotoxemia Type D

Disease that affects unvaccinated goats that have been placed on high energy diets.

Entropin

A heritable trait in which the lower eyelid is inverted, causing the eyelashes of the lower lid to brush against the eye.

Esophageal Feeder

Tube placed down the esophagus of a goat to administer milk or other liquid.

Estrogen

Hormone that causes regression of the corpus luteum and stimulates estrus.

Estrous Cycle

The time period from beginning of one heat to the beginning of the next heat. Usually about 16-17 days.

Estrus

The period of time when the female is sexually receptive to the male, Usually 24-36 hours, also known as "heat".

External Parasite

Parasites that may be found on the hair, skin and in the nasal and ear passages.

Fecundity

Efficiency of an individual in production of young. Animals that bring forth young frequently, regularly, and, in case of those that bear more than one offspring at a birth, in large numbers, are said to be fecund.

Fertility

The ability to produce offspring.

Fetus

The unborn young in the later stages of development.

Flehmen response

A behaviour whereby a goat curls back its upper lips exposing its front teeth, inhales with the nostrils usually closed and then often holds this position for several seconds.

Flight Zone

Maximum zone of comfort or security of animals.

Flushing

Management practice of improving a does's plan of nutrition just prior to mating to improve ovulation rate.

Foot Bath

Chemical and water mixture, that goats stand in, used for the prevention and/or treatment of foot rot and foot scald.

Forage

Fiber-containing feedstuffs such as silage, hay and pasture.

Forcing Pen

Pen used to confine animals prior to moving them into treatment chutes.

Freshen

To come into milk.

Galatopoiesis

Stimulating milk production.

Gambrel Restrainer

Restraining device that is a gambrel-shaped piece of plastic that is placed over the top of the animal's neck, with slots on either side to hold both front legs of the animal.

Gastroenteritis

An inflammation of the stomach and intestines.

Gestation

Period of pregnancy beginning at conception and ending with birth (142-152 days).

Grafting

Fostering a kid onto a doe that is not its natural mother.

Group Fed

Feeding system where all animals in a group are fed at one time.

Guard Dog

A dog that stays with the goats without harming them and aggressively repels predators.

HACCP

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, an internationally recognized and recommended approach to food safety that anticipates and prevents hazards associated with ingredients.

Heat

See estrus.

Helminths

Parasitic worms.

Herd

"Herd" is a term that describes a small (or large) group of goats. Goats are "herd" animals meaning that they will thrive better with one or more of their same kind in numbers. By comparison, almost every species is given a specific group term; "flock" of geese, "pride" of lions, "pack" of dogs, "school" of fish...

Hypocalcemia

Low levels of calcium in the blood.

Hypomagnesemia

Low levels of magnesium in the blood.

Hypothermia

Inability to keep warm often caused by cold or wet weather.

IM

Intramuscularly, in the muscle shot.

Immunity

Developing resistance to a specific pathogenic microorganism.

Intermediate Host

An animal or other living body in which a parasite completes part of its life cycle and usually causes no damage.

Internal Parasites

Parasites located in the stomach, lungs and intestines of goats.

International Unit

(IU) Unit of measurement of vitamins and drugs.

Iodine

Disinfectant used on navels of newborn goats that helps dry up the navel, thus closing the passageway into the body of the goat. Also applied to hooves of newborns by some breeders. Veterinary iodine contains 7% iodine while common iodine for humans contains 2% iodine.

Jacobson's Organ

Also known as the vomeronasal organ, is mainly used to detect pheromones, chemical messengers that carry information between individuals of the same species, hence is sometimes referred to as the "sixth sense."

Johnes

A wasting disease of ruminants, contagious in their fecal matter (poop).

Keds

Bloodsucking ticks that pierce the skin causing serious damage to the pelts.

Ketones

Compounds found in the blood of pregnant goats suffering from pregnancy toxemia.

Known Carrier

An animal that has produced offspring with a genetic defect.

Kid(s)

Baby goats, either sex.

Kidding

Having babies.

Lactation

The period of time when the doe is producing milk. Normally from birth of kid to weaning.

Lactated Ringers Solution

Used for adding body fluids to a dehydrated goat (known as LRS).

Legumes

Family of plants bearing seeds in a pod. Alfalfa hay is an example of a legume.

Leucocyte (leukocyte)

Usually referring to white blood cells.

Liver Flukes

Small leaf-shaped organisms that roll up like a scroll in the bile ducts or liver tissue.

Loading Chute

A chute used for loading animals into a truck or trailer.

Lochia

The dark blood discharge a doe has for several weeks after kidding.

LRS

Used for adding body fluids to a dehydrated goat (known as Lactated Ringers Solution).

Substantial reduction in plasma calcium which interferes with nerve transmission, causing partial or almost total paralysis occurring at or just giving birth and initiation of lactation.

Milk Replacer

Artificial milk substitute fed to young goats.

Mineral

Inorganic substance found naturally in all body cells, tissues and fluids.

Mitigation

To make less harsh or severe; using goats to control brush or weeds is commonly referred to as mitigation.

ML

Milliliter, same as CC; 3CC and 3ML are the same thing in shots.

Monogastric

An animal with a single compartment stomach. Goats are not monogastric.

Mycotoxin

Toxic compounds, produced by fungi, that contaminate plants.

Nanny

A mother goat; infrequently used depending upon your location.

Natural Immunity

Inherited resistance to disease that varies between breeds, strains within breeds and individuals.

Necropsy

Examination of a dead animal to determine cause of death.

Nematode

Also called Roundworms, nematodes are among the most abundant animals, occurring as parasites in animals and plants or as free-living forms in soil, freshwater, marine environments, and even such unusual places as vinegar and beer malts.

Nitrate Poisoning

Condition in which toxic levels of nitrates accumulate in plants.

Nose Bots

Tiny larvae that crawl into nasal passages.

Omasum

The third part of the ruminant stomach located between the reticulum and the abomasum.

Oocyst

A stage in the life of coccidia (a protozoal parasite) that is shed in manure. Goats become infected by ingesting oocysts from contaminated pastures.

Orifice

The hole in the end of a teat.

Ovary

Primary female reproductive organ.

Over the Counter Drugs

(OTC) Drugs that can be purchased directly by the producer.

Palatability

This refers to how avidly a goat will choose from among several different choices of feed.

Parasite

An organsim that lives off of a host.

Parous

Females that have produced young.

Parturient Paresis

Substantial reduction in plasma calcium which interferes with nerve transmission, causing partial or almost total paralysis occurring at or just giving birth and initiation of lactation.

Parturition

The act of bringing forth young; childbirth.

Pinkeye

A highly contagious disease that affects the eyes of goats (also contagious to humans).

Placenta

The big membrane that the doe expells after kidding.

Post Mortem

After death.

Postpartum

After birth.

Prepartum

Before birth.

Pregnancy Toxemia

A metabolic disease of pregnant does generally caused by diet deficient in energy during late pregnancy.

Probiotic

Living organisms used to manipulate fermentation in the rumen.

Progeny

Offspring.

Prolificacy (fecundity)

The number of offspring actually produced by a female.

Protein

Nitrogen-based essential nutrient, composed of chains of amino acids, that is present in all living things.

Protein Supplement

Feedstuff that contain a high level of protein. Fed to animals in addition to their base diet.

Ration

A mixture of feedstuffs fed to animals over a 24 hour period.

Rehydrate

The addition of body fluids which have been lost from fever, illness, heat, etc.

Rennet

Extracted from the fourth stomach, the enzyme component rennin is used to coagulate milk.

Reticulo-Rumen

Section of the ruminant gastrointestinal tract consisting of the reticulum and the rumen that is the primary site for microbial fermentation of feedstuffs.

Reticulum

The second compartment of the ruminant stomach, also known as the second stomach. The lining has a honeycombed appearance to increase the surface are for absorption.

Rigor Mortis

The permanent contraction of skeletal muscle associated with death.

Roughage

Coarse, bulky feed high in fiber such as hay, straw and silage.

Rumen

The large first compartment of a ruminant's stomach containing microbial population that is capable of breaking down forages and roughages.

Rumen-Reticulum

Pregastric fermentation chamber that host a large microbial population.

Ruminant

A group of animals that chew their cud and characteristically have a four compartment stomach.

Rumination

The process of regurgitating food to be rechewed.

Scours

Diarrhea usually only associated with incorrect milk feeding.

Shipping Fever

Respiratory disease usually accompanying transport.

Silage

Green forage converted to a succulent feed of 30% - 40% dry matter for goats by storing without air (as in silo or air-tight bags).

Sire

The father.

Soremouth

A highly contagious (also to humans), viral infection that causes scabs around mouth, nostrils, eyes and may effect udders of lactating does.

SubQ

Subcutaneous, under the skin shot (sometimes written as SQ or sq).

Synchronization

A management practice used to cause the goats to cycle at the same time.

Systemic Disease

A disease where more than one portion of the body is affected; often the whole body or one or more systems.

Total Digestible Nutrients

(TDN) Standard system for expressing the energy value of feeds.

Trace Minerals

(TM) Minerals that are required in very small amounts.

Urinary Calculi

Metabolic disease of male lambs characterized by the formation of stones within the urinary tract. It is caused primarily by an imbalance of dietary calcium and phosphorus.

Uterus

Portion of the female reproductive tract where conceptuses devolop prior to birth (womb).

Vaccination

Injection, given to healthy animals, used to stimulate prolonged immunity to specific diseases.

Vaginal Prolapse

Protrusion of the vagina in does in late pregnancy.

Vitamins

Small organic compounds, necessary for proper metabolism, that are found in feed in minute amounts. Deficiencies result in distinct diseases or syndromes.

Vomeronasal Organ

Also known as Jacobson's Organ, is mainly used to detect pheromones, chemical messengers that carry information between individuals of the same species, hence is sometimes referred to as the "sixth sense."

Wether

Castrated male.

White Muscle Disease

A disease caused by a deficiency of selenium, Vitamin E or both that causes degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles of goats.

Withdrawal Period (or time)

The time when a drug must not be administered prior to marketing to insure that no drug residues remain in the meat or milk.

Yearling

A one year old goat.

Zoonosis

Diseases of animals that can be transmitted to humans.

Zygote

The product of fertilization, ie. a cell formed from the union of an oocyte and a spermatozoan.

About the author: This article was requested by a variety of GoatWorld Members and is an ongoing project to list all applicable goat terms and their specific meaning. Anyone is welcome to submit terminology for inclusion in this article once it has been verified to be accurate.